Wellness Words March 2019 Posted on March 14, 2019 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant Go For Whole Grains!Celebrate National Nutrition Month by brushing up on your knowledge of what healthy eating really means! According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a healthy diet involves eating all five food groups including fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy.The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines For Americans recommends adults consume a variety of fruits and vegetables, switch to non-fat or low-fat dairy products, limit added sugars and saturated fats, and shift towards eating more whole grain foods. Specifically, about half of all grains consumed should be whole grains.So, what’s the difference between a whole grain or a refined (also called processed) grain? A whole grain contains the entire grain kernel and is made up of three layers including the bran or outer layer, the endosperm or middle layer, and the germ or inner layer. According to the Dietary Guidelines For Americans, the outer layer is rich in fiber and contains B vitamins and trace minerals, the middle layer contains carbohydrates and some proteins, and the inner layer is filled with many nutrients including antioxidants, Vitamin E, B vitamins and healthy fats.Unlike a whole grain, a refined grain is processed, meaning parts of the grain are removed. A refined grain only contains the endosperm, or middle layer, so much of the nutrients that benefit your body are taken away when grains are processed.Eating whole grains along with a healthy diet can help reduce the risk for developing some chronic diseases like heart disease or diabetes. To add more whole grains to your diet, the United States Department of Agriculture recommends these tips:Make Simple Shifts – Try choosing 100% whole grain bread, bagels, or pasta instead of white bread, bagels or pasta. Change one or two things at a time until you’ve made half of your grains whole grains.Check The Label – Read the ingredients list to be sure you’re choosing whole grain foods. Foods that are 100% whole grain usually list whole grains as the first ingredient or the second ingredient, after water.Have A Whole Grain Snack – Popcorn is a healthy whole grain snack when made with little salt and no butter. Other whole grain snack options include whole wheat or rye crackers and brown rice cakes.Modify Your Baking Recipes – Try substituting buckwheat or oat flour in your favorite pancake or waffle recipes in place of white flour.Plan Ahead – Cook extra brown rice or quinoa during your free time and refrigerate half of it to enjoy later in the week. This makes it easier to add extra whole grains to your meals.If you would like to learn more, attend a special program on ‘Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping’ presented by Erika Winney MS RD CDN, Littauer’s Clinical Nutrition Manager on March 27 in Littauer’s Auditorium.You are invited to join us for a buffet-style luncheon at 11:30 for $6 or attend the presentation only at 12 noon at no charge. To attend, call HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120 or email healthlink@nlh.org. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Love Letters to Littauer Posted on February 20, 2019February 20, 2019 by Dakota PikeThis Valentine’s Day, our community sends love letters to Littauer.
Littauer announces Barbara Garrigan, R.N., as Goodwill Award recipient- 4th Quarter 2018 Posted on February 18, 2019 by Dakota PikeNathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home Announces Goodwill Award RecipientBarbara Garrigan, R.N. Employee of the 4th Quarter 2018 Littauer 4th quarter 2018 Goodwill Award recipient, Barbara Garrigan, R.N., Staff Nurse Diagnostic Imaging, with Littauer President and CEO Laurence E. KellyGloversville, NY – Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home congratulates Barbara Garrigan, R.N., Staff Nurse Diagnostic Imaging, for receiving The Goodwill Award-Employee of the 4th Quarter for 2018.Laurence E. Kelly, President and CEO of NLH, presented Barbara with the award on February 7th at a gathering of her peers. Mr. Kelly noted that she received a record-breaking 26 nominations from her from her co-workers.Co-workers and patients alike stated Barbara is always kind and generous with her time, professional, caring and most compassionate, with one patient adding, “If Barb is a representation of how all NLH employees care for patients, then NLH has a very good thing going!”Barbara has worked at NLH & NH since she was 19 years old. She will be celebrating 31 years in April of 2019. Upon receiving the award Barbara stated, “I couldn’t accept this award without including everyone in the department. Thank you for helping me do what I do.”The mission of The Goodwill Award is to recognize goodwill and promote the “People Caring for People” environment toward co-workers, patients and the community of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home.Recipients for the award are nominated by NLH employees, providers or patients and submitted to the Goodwill Committee. The winner is selected in blind format. About Nathan Littauer Hospital Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is an independent, full-service 74-bed acute care hospital system with on-campus dialysis, an 84-bed skilled nursing home and 10 primary care centers serving Upstate New York. Nathan Littauer provides safe, high-quality health and wellness services with a focus on securing appropriate new technologies in a rural setting. The hospital has nearly 1,000 employees covering a 50-mile footprint. Littauer’s medical staff provides well over 130,000 patient encounters each year. As we celebrate our 125th year of service, the hospital has expanded to offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities we serve. In March of 2019, Nathan Littauer will open a newly built, state-of-the-art Primary Care Center in Broadalbin, NY. More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.
Channel 10 covers Littauer’s NEW TeleSAFE program Posted on February 15, 2019February 15, 2019 by Dakota PikeThank you Channel 10 for the coverage on our NEW TeleSAFE program! Click on the link below to watch the full clip.https://www.news10.com/video/local-hospital-announces-new-program-to-help-sexual-assault-victims_20190214225201/1782842147?fbclid=IwAR3GszGbseIEimhcFsQcSAvr7MbhTq9-cM9GLiNzazTr0BnvsQAYl0Su0-A
Nathan Littauer Hospital announced as the first hospital with virtual SAFE services in New York State Posted on February 14, 2019February 14, 2019 by Dakota PikeFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEUNITED CONCIERGE MEDICINE AND NATHAN LITTAUER HOSPITAL ANNOUNCE INNOVATIVE NEW PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE CARE FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT Littauer is First Hospital in the State to Offer Program to Improve Care for Victims of Sexual Assault through TelemedicineGloversville, NY – United Concierge Medicine (UCM) and Nathan Littauer today announced a unique and innovative partnership to improve care for sexual assault victims called TeleSAFE.Utilizing a unique approach to care and digital technology, the UCM-administered TeleSAFE program solves the problem of limited access to care for sexual assault victims in NYS by virtually connecting Emergency Department staff with a certified Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE). These SAFE-certified providers will then help guide ER staff through the process of the forensic exam. Launched February 1, Nathan Littauer is the first hospital in the State to offer this innovative care model.Laurence E. Kelly, President and CEO of Nathan Littauer Hospital said, “As a rural, independent hospital we always embrace new technology solutions to better serve our community. This new partnership will provide UCM’s innovative and customized virtual care to patients and support to staff, and provide even greater access to care while comforting victims of sexual assault. In the end, it is our patients – even those most vulnerable and in crisis – who will benefit from this partnership.”This program is funded by a $300,000 grant from the New York State Department of Health (DOH), Division of Family Health and a $2.85 million grant funded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Both grants are being administered by the St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation.United Concierge Medicine CEO Keith Algozzine said, “Access to SAFE providers is a public health crisis disproportionally impacting small and rural hospitals. No one should be denied timely care because the hospital has no SAFE-certified provider available. That’s why UCM is so excited to launch this program and serve the patients of Nathan Littauer. We hope all hospitals who do not have 24/7/365 SAFE providers available will partner with us to ensure victims of sexual assault receive the care they need.”This program is an invaluable resource for rural and underserved areas throughout New York State (NYS), allowing them to comply with public health law to care for patients after sexual assault. The challenge for many hospitals, particularly in rural areas, is the lack of available SAFE providers. Regardless of the hospital to which a patient presents, he or she can now have access to a SAFE provider.According to the New York State DOH website, there are only 45 SAFE certified hospitals in the State. A SAFE certified facility meets strict criteria for standards of care and provides coverage for victims of sexual assault 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Of those 45 hospitals, 27 are located in or around the New York City metropolitan area, leaving 18 facilities to provide care for the approximately 12 million people in the rest of New York.However, through this unique pilot program, Nathan Littauer and 45 additional hospitals in the Capital Region and Central New York will now be able to virtually access SAFE-certified providers to properly treat victims. Importantly, 18 of these 46 hospitals are designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as critical access hospitals. These facilities receive this designation if they are more than 35-miles away from another hospital (among other criteria).About UCM UCM’s Virtual ER provides 24/7 triage and treatment by a dedicated team of emergency medicine providers through modern digital tools, including phone, video and picture. This unique approach to emergency medicine has provided patients more immediate access to care in a customized and comfortable environment. In 2018, UCM used their experience as a provider of virtual emergency medicine to provide a wider net of care for victims of sexual assault, launching the TeleSAFE Program to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to any victim of sexual assault or abuse, regardless of the health care facility to which they present. To learn more about UCM’s TeleSAFE program, please visit www.TeleSAFE.org or www.unitedconciergemedicine.com.About Nathan Littauer Hospital Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is an independent, full-service 74-bed acute care hospital system with on-campus dialysis, an 84-bed skilled nursing home and 10 primary care centers serving Upstate New York. Nathan Littauer provides safe, high-quality health and wellness services with a focus on securing appropriate new technologies in a rural setting. The hospital has nearly 1,000 employees covering a 50-mile footprint. Littauer’s medical staff provides well over 130,000 patient encounters each year. As we celebrate our 125th year of service, the hospital has expanded to offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities we serve. In March of 2019, Nathan Littauer will open a newly built, state-of-the-art Primary Care Center in Broadalbin, NY. More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.
Wellness Words February 2019 Posted on February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.Community Education Assistant February Is American Heart MonthDid you know the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States is heart disease? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 630,000 Americans die from heart disease every year. Therefore, it’s important to stay educated on heart health, know the risk factors associated with heart problems, and the steps you can take to protect yourself against such problems.Speaking of heart health, you’ve probably heard the terms cardiovascular disease, heart disease and coronary artery disease, but do you know the difference between them?Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute defines cardiovascular disease as a broad term used to describe any type of disease that affects either the heart or the blood vessels. Heart disease is considered a type of cardiovascular disease. All heart diseases are considered cardiovascular diseases, but not all cardiovascular diseases are heart diseases.Heart DiseaseThere are several types of heart diseases, all of which affect the heart. While coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease, there are many other conditions that affect the heart. These conditions may include but are not limited to arrhythmias, heart failure and cardiomyopathy. An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that can be either very fast or very slow, heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs, and cardiomyopathy is a condition that affects the heart muscles, resulting in a weakened heart.Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)Coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease and, according to the American Heart Association, is actually the most common type of heart disease, affecting more than 16.5 million Americans. CAD occurs when there is a buildup of plaque in the arteries. This plaque is usually made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium or other substances. When plaque builds up, the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart is blocked and can lead to chest pain and heart attack.Promoting Heart HealthWhile there are some uncontrollable risk factors that increase the chance of developing cardiovascular disease, like age or family history, there are many risk factors that we can control. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, a poor diet and inactivity can all greatly increase your chance of developing cardiovascular disease. In order to promote heart health and protect against CVD, the National Institute of Health recommends:Keeping your blood pressure, cholesterol, and A1C levels in check by visiting your healthcare provider on a regular basis.Reducing the amount of salt you eat to no more than 2,300 mg per day.Increasing the amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grains you eat.Engaging in physical activity on a regular basis.Maintaining a healthy weight.Not smoking.Managing stress.For more information, contact your healthcare provider or call HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120. You can email us at healthlink@nlh.org or visit our wellness center on 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
PRISCILLA PARKHURST FERGUSON OBITUARY Posted on January 16, 2019 by Dakota Pike Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson of Manhattan and Gloversville, New York, died at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan on December 31, 2018. She was born in Gloversville in 1940, the daughter of Richard and Neale Parkhurst.After graduating from the Emma Willard School and Mount Holyoke College, cum laude, she earned a Master’s Degree and a Ph.D. in French from Columbia University. Dr. Ferguson retired a few years ago as Professor Emerita of Sociology at Columbia University after a long and accomplished career. According to her university biography, her work ranged from analysis of the literary field in France to studies of the post-revolutionary French novel through explorations of an emerging national culture in France over the 19th century. Her most current research involved the sociology of food and cuisine.Dr. Ferguson taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 1966 to 1989, rising to the level of Professor and Chair of the Department of French. While there her first two books were published, both in America and Belgium.In 1989 she began teaching at Columbia University as Professor of Sociology and French. She published three more books during her tenure there and held positions for various periods as Director of Undergraduate Studies and Director of Graduate Studies.During her academic and teaching career, Dr. Ferguson was invited to be a Visiting Lecturer or a Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago, Yale University, Le Institut d’ẽtudes Francaises d’Avignon, and Harvard University. In addition to her five books, she edited two books, published at least twenty-two journal and magazine articles and at least five book reviews during her long career.Dr. Ferguson was married for almost 30 years to the late Robert A. Ferguson who, like Priscilla, was a distinguished and nationally recognized professor at Columbia University.PRISCILLA PARKHURST FERGUSON, Obituary 1-9-19 Page 1The Fergusons were generous benefactors to Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home in Gloversville, N.Y. In 2012, they established the Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson and Robert A. Ferguson Fund for Education. This fund annually provides scholarships to employees to enhance their careers. The Fergusons also donated funds to construct The Parkhurst-Ferguson Pavilion which houses the Gloversville Dialysis Center on the Littauer Campus. In 2015, Dr. Ferguson stated, “We are great supporters of Gloversville, and of Nathan Littauer as a key institution in Fulton County. We hope that by giving back to this community, others will recognize the importance and do the same.”Dr. Ferguson was a member of the Board of Directors of the Nathan Littauer Foundation as well as various professional organizations.From her childhood days as a lifeguard at Gloversville’s Littauer Pool to the more recent years of nurturing the roses at her Gloversville home during summer breaks, taking long evening walks with Robert, and having lively conversations with local friends, Priscilla Ferguson enjoyed the benefits of life in Gloversville.Dr. Ferguson is predeceased by her parents, Richard and Neale Parkhurst and her brothers Peter and Michael. She is survived by nephews David, Richard B. III, Cameron and Alexander Parkhurst and niece Amanda Parkhurst.A memorial service will be held at the family’s convenience.
